Expression and functional characterization of a rat sulfotransferase (ST1A1) cDNA for sulfations of phenolic substrates in COS-1 cells.

A cDNA (PST-1) isolated from a rat liver cDNA library was expressed in COS-1 cells and found to encode a form of arylsulfotransferase (termed ST1A1), which sulfated p-nitrophenol, alpha-naphthol, minoxidil, beta-estradiol and dopamine, but not dehydroepiandrosterone and cortisol. ST1A1 showed a mobility identical with a major immunodetectable sulfotransferase contained in the livers of male and female rats in Western blots. In addition, ST1A1 mRNA was detected in the liver and extrahepatic tissues by Northern blots.